10/03/2018
Dontse Yahke, the informal settlement above formalised Imizamo Yethu, was the area most affected by the tragic fires of March 2017 in which more than 10 000 people lost their homes and belongings. Although at least one life was sadly lost it was a miracle that there weren't more casualties.
In the aftermath of the fire, the then Mayor presented a plan to superblock the area so as to avert more fires and to vastly improve the quality of life.
The plan was to create spaces between each fire retardant shack and roads that could be easilyhttps://www.iol.co.za/capetimes/news/city-trying-to-find-mediated-solution-in-hout-bay-land-squabble-17158747 accessed by firefighters. It was a good idea and was presented with much optimism and little understanding of the challenges the idea would face. The approved budget at the time was for R150million.
This was over and above the R250million budgeted for development of blocks of flats which was already underway- and with the civils almost complete as of this date about to break ground more or less on schedule/
First the DY residents were evacuated to TRU's (Temporary Relocation Units) for 90 days. Silvertown, the main area used for the TRU's , was on the field next to the football astroturf. Being on a floodplain the area was terribly unsuitable for the residents.
The Hout Bay community all got together to help these people and through the use of social media groups like Hout Bay Organised awareness was created of their plight and millions of rands were raised and distributed by willing volunteers. Special mention must be made of Thula Thula the fire relief organisation that spearheaded efforts.
Some of the residents refused to relocate and rebuilt shacks, and unfortunately some people not even affected by the fires built new shacks on the land set aside for the main road- now called Road One
Attempts were then made by the Mayor's Office to find other land for relocation, and sights were set on pieces of ground bordering Imizamo Yethu. One site identified has come to be known as the Triangle Site-above the Cemetery on Hughenden Road. Plans to use it for temporary housing seems to have been put on hold.
Currently the Triangle site is being used as a toilet block- a move which some people believe desecrates the neighbouring graves.
All of this has been put on hold reportedly because of infighting in Imizamo Yethu by different factions and also by the court action brought by residents of Road One together with the Hout Bay Ratepayers Forum. City hopes to mediate with these factions to make some headway.
Current Mayor is likely to be stepping down this October and the change of leadership could impact on the mediations and perhaps some of the promises made.
IOL Report- City trying to find mediated solution
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